PARIS: Bureau Veritas has stepped up its portfolio diversification strategy with three acquisitions designed to strengthen its presence across high-growth technical sectors. The global Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) firm announced agreements to acquire specialized companies in Germany, Denmark, and South Korea, aligning with its LEAP I 28 growth strategy. Bureau Veritas will acquire Denmark’s…
Bureau Veritas reports strong H1 2025 results; Confirms full-year outlook amid strategic execution gains
PARIS: Bureau Veritas posted robust first-half results for 2025, fueled by strong organic revenue growth and margin expansion as the company accelerated the execution of its LEAP | 28 strategic plan. The inspection and certification giant reaffirmed its full-year outlook, citing resilient performance across regions and industries and tangible gains from ongoing performance programs. Key…
Signify reports Q2 sales of €1.4 billion amid resilient demand for connected lighting
EINDHOVEN: Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the global leader in lighting solutions, posted second-quarter revenue of €1.418 billion, navigating persistent market headwinds with robust consumer demand and growing sustainability credentials. The company’s comparable sales declined 1.4%, dragged by its Conventional lighting business. Excluding that segment, topline growth reached 0.8%, driven by momentum in the Professional and Consumer…
NatWest Markets group reports strong H1 2025 results amid market volatility
LONDON: NatWest Markets Group (NWM Group) delivered solid financial results for the first half of 2025, reporting a profit of £89 million—up from £83 million in the same period last year. The performance came despite navigating a turbulent geopolitical environment and volatile currency markets. Total income rose to £762 million, an increase of £112 million…
John Wood sells RWG joint venture stake to Siemens Energy for $135 million
LONDON: John Wood Group PLC on Friday said it has agreed to divest its 50 percent interest in RWG (Repair & Overhauls) Limited to Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG for $135 million in cash, marking another key step in Wood’s disposal program aimed at streamlining its portfolio and reducing net debt. The transaction,…
Metals One eyes expansion with U.S. uranium project acquisition
LONDON: Metals One Plc (AIM: MET1) said Friday it has secured exclusive rights to acquire a 75% stake in two U.S.-based companies holding uranium and vanadium claims in Utah and Colorado, expanding its strategic footprint in America’s critical minerals sector. The claims—Vanadium King, Radium Mountain, and Wedding Bell—are located in the Uravan Mining Belt and…
NatWest Group reports £1.85 billion profit for H1 2025, driven by stronger income and stable costs
LONDON: NatWest Bank Group (NWB Group) on Friday reported an attributable profit of £1.85 billion for the first half of 2025, as income rose and operating costs remained stable. The group’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 11.3% for NWB Plc, down slightly from year-end 2024. Total income surged 8% year-over-year to £6.36…
Taylor Maritime posts wider annual loss amid vessel revaluations and softening freight market
LONDON: Taylor Maritime Limited reported a full-year loss of $78.6 million for the financial year ended 31 March 2025, widening from $53.5 million a year earlier, as weaker market sentiment and falling vessel values weighed on performance. The Hong Kong-headquartered dry bulk shipping firm said asset revaluations accounted for $113.0 million in losses, reflecting a…
Close Brothers Group to sell Winterflood Securities to Marex Group for £103.9 million in cash
LONDON: Close Brothers Group has agreed to sell its execution services and securities business, Winterflood Securities to Marex Group plc for a consideration amount of approximately £103.9 million in cash. The Transaction is aligned with the group’s strategic priorities to simplify the portfolio, enhance operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth. As previously outlined, Close Brothers is actively…
Wall Street stocks rise; S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit records as investors parse earnings
Dow Jones slips as UnitedHealth drags; Nasdaq, S&P 500 notch record highs amid tech rebound U.S. Stocks climbed in afternoon trading Thursday, with both the Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 hitting fresh record highs as investors digested corporate earnings and global monetary updates. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3% to a session high of 21,107, setting…
Althea CEO Joshua Fegan steps down, Barry Katzman named interim leader
MELBOURNE: Althea Group Holdings Ltd. (ASX:AGH), a global leader in THC beverage production, announced the immediate resignation of CEO and Director Joshua Fegan, with transition plans now underway. Fegan, who founded Althea and led the company since its inception, is credited with advancing medicinal cannabis access in Australia and the UK. His tenure also marked…
Cromwell Property Group to exit Chatswood JV with $87 million sale
SYDNEY: Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) has agreed to sell its 50% interest in a landmark office asset at 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW for approximately A$87 million, the company said in an ASX filing on Thursday. The disposal, structured under a conditional sale contract, is expected to reduce the group’s gearing by roughly 3% and…